Vet Technician Training Program
How to Find the Best One Near Truckee California

Achieving your lifelong aspiration of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a vet tech program near Truckee CA may at first seem like a challenging undertaking. But in order to succeed as a working veterinary technician, you must first locate and ultimately enroll in a program that will provide the necessary training and education. But just how do you tackle reviewing and comparing schools so that you can make the correct selection? When looking for vet tech schools, the majority of students start by zeroing in on those that are closest to their homes. Once they have identified some local colleges, they ascertain which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although expense and location are important factors when assessing vet technician schools, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your evaluations. Job placement and intership programs as well as accreditation are equally important if not more so as cost and location. The bottom line is that before making a selection, you must finish your due diligence and compare all important aspects of the schools you are reviewing. We have provided several in this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll go over the different roles of vet techs and the training alternatives offered.

IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW

Vet Tech Education Options

Among the initial decisions that you will need to make is whether you want to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your preference might be based on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the principal determiner will probably be which specialization interests you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they both work under the immediate direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are many functions that they can perform within the Truckee CA veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medications, diagnose ailments, or conduct surgeries. In those areas they can only provide assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the conventional vet practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the responsibilities and education requirements for each specialty.

• Vet Assistants in almost all cases will have gone through a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, or by graduating from a certificate program at a trade school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet techs in the performance of their duties. Generally they are not involved with more complex activities, for example assisting with surgeries. A few of their typical duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or handling animals during exams.
• Vet Technicians get more advanced training in contrast to assistants and typically obtain a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinarian counterparts of medical nurses, since their fundamental job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more complex activities, such as assisting with surgical procedures or administering medication. All states presently mandate that vet techs pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are similar to vet techs and essentially carry out the same job functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which generally takes four years to complete. Therefore the main difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist's more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job opportunities, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

Veterinary technicians and technologists may specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or urgent care. Many may acquire certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Truckee CA laboratories or research facilities also.

Online Veterinary Technician Schools Offered

An approach that may make sense for those with a busy schedule or who are working full-time while attending vet school is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are provided via the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The educational program is taught using several methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since most veterinary tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that portion can usually be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Truckee CA veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary expenses, for instance for commuting and study supplies, may be more affordable compared to more traditional classroom courses. Just make sure that the program that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything is provided for a complete education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant manner, an online veterinary technician program may be the right option for you.

Questions to Ask Veterinary Technician Programs

At this point you probably have decided on which veterinarian credential that you would like to obtain, and if you intend to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Truckee CA area as well as across the Country, you need to ask some important questions to help fine tune your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our introduction, many future students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already pointed out other significant qualifiers, for example accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you want to select a school that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other factors are addressed in the list of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are considering.

Is the Vet College Accredited?  It's essential that you confirm that the veterinary technician program you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously mentioned, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through an extensive review process that verifies you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not obtainable for non-accredited programs. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is frequently a prerequisite for employment for many Truckee CA area veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the College's Reputation?  The veterinary college or vocational school and program you enroll in must have an outstanding reputation within the veterinarian community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include looking on online school rating websites and contacting the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or violations concerning your targeted schools. As a final suggestion, call some Truckee CA vet clinics that you may want to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think about your school choices. They might even recommend some programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The most effective approach to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Ask if the programs you are reviewing have internship programs arranged with Truckee CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and many furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable regarding the clinical training, but an internship may also help establish associations in the local vet community and assist in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program?  Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program can be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are considering. A low rate could signify that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, check that the colleges have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could indicate that the school has an outstanding reputation within the Truckee CA veterinary community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may indicate that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are bigger, you probably will get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Truckee CA programs you are researching what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to sit in on a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and find out what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the College Located?  Of course, we previously talked about location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the topic. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your Truckee CA home, you have to confirm that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the college is located in or near a large city. Also, if you do decide to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition fees particularly for community and state colleges. Of course taking online classes could be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And finally, it's important that you determine if the veterinarian colleges you are exploring offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For example, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Truckee CA. Others may only be able to attend classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are offered prior to enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make up classes that you might miss due to illness, work or family issues. You might find that an online program is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary education into your busy life.

Find Out More About How to Become a Vet Technologist in Truckee

Chosse the Right Truckee Vet Technologist School

Picking the ideal vet tech college is a crucial first step to beginning a gratifying career delivering care and treatment for animals. Future students looking into vet tech colleges must make their selection based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have discussed, it's essential that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This goes for online vet tech colleges as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to narrow down your alternatives so that you can make your final selection. And by choosing the best college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Truckee California.

 

Truckee Veterinary Technician Schools | Truckee Online Vet Tech Programs